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Scalise Says Stronger Penalties for Child Sex Criminals are Needed

June 5, 2008

Washington, DC -- Rep. Steve Scalise (R-LA) and Rep. Ric Keller (R-FL) this week introduced legislation that will strengthen penalties for child pornography offenses, child sex trafficking offenses, and other sexual offenses committed against children.

“I want to send a clear and strong message to predatory criminals who attack our most innocent citizens, our children. Our society must have zero tolerance for this behavior and these disgraceful criminals will not be excused,” Scalise said. “There have been several incidents recently in the region that have caused local families a lot of pain. Before this type of behavior becomes more of an epidemic, I want to make sure that these dangerous criminals know that their actions will have real, significant consequences.”

The Prevention and Deterrence of Crimes Against Children Act of 2008:
• Increases penalties for child sex offenses resulting in death, repeated child sex crimes, and forcible rape.
• Increases penalties for child pornography offenses.
• Increases penalties for child sex trafficking and child prostitution offenses.
• Allows Secretary of State to refuse issuance or revoke previously issued passports for sex offenders convicted of transporting minors for prostitution or international travel for illicit sexual conduct.
• Allows removal proceedings for an alien convicted of sex offense and makes aliens convicted of sex crimes inadmissible.

Within the last month, three individuals in the area have been arrested and charged with crimes related to this bill. A janitor is facing nine counts of aggravated rape, two counts of child molestation and two counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile. A special education teacher has recently been sentenced to seven years in prison for 275 counts of processing child pornography. Another man was recently arrested and charged with one count of molestation of a juvenile.

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Contact: Luke Bolar
202-226-4309